Customs to enforce ban on import of cars older than five years

June 9, 2009

Saudi Customs will immediately enforce regulations halting the import of cars older than five years into the Kingdom, Arab News reported today.

“The ban is on used cars, buses and other light goods vehicles more than five years old. Heavy vehicles more than 10 years old are also not allowed to be imported,” Suleiman Al-Tuwaijeri, director of the Customs Department at the Jeddah Islamic Port, told Arab News.

The ban does not cover spare parts for old vehicles in use, Al-Tuwaijeri said, adding that a six-month grace period has been granted to importers to set matters straight.

More than 140,000 used cars valued at SR17.5 billion were imported last year. This accounted for 24 percent of total cars imported during the year, the daily reported.